Extra points

A couple of notes and quotes from tonight’s game that didn’t get into the main story:

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Ivan Ochoa said it was a first for him. In the seventh inning, Randy Winn singled and manager Bruce Bochy called for a hit-and-run. The Marlins guessed right and pitched out. Ochoa, his feet still in the batter’s box, protected Winn by taking a whack at the pitchout and hitting Paul Lo Duca in the glove hand.

For his act of aggression, Ochoa was awarded first base on catcher’s interference. It was weird seeing Lo Duca arguing the call as he writhed in pain on the ground.

That play was important because Bengie Molina, who later would hit the game-winning sacrifice fly, delivered a two-out, RBI single.

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The standard caveat applies: It’s only been a week. But Pablo Sandoval has been impressive. Tonight was the first time I saw him play first base, and he looked quick and agile.

At the plate, he got a gift double when he smoked a ball that went over left fielder Josh Willingham’s glove, as Willingham failed to grasp how hard Sandoval hit it. In the three-run sixth, with all of five games in the majors, Sandoval drew an intentional walk.

“The year he had in the minor-leagues, clubs know about it,” manager Bruce Bochy said.

The move backfired when Emmanuel Burriss followed with an RBI single.

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On Italian Heritage Night, Rich Aurilia was an Italian stallion. He hit an RBI double and leaped as high as a 36-year-old could leap to save a run with a catch in the eighth inning. He also caught two screaming liners by Willingham, one with a dive.